A STATISTICS student from the University of New England has learned the power of probability with a $10,000 scratchie ticket win.
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The winning ticket was sold at Heagney’s Plaza News.
Store owner Athol Heagney said the shop has had a few lucky wins in its time.
“The shop has been here for 25 years, we’ve sold quite a few winners over the years but the big multi-million wins have still evaded us,” he said.
“We’ve sold quite a few first divisions, we’ve sold an $800,000 scratchie a couple of years ago, last Christmas we sold a winning $5 scratchie for $100,000.”
Mr Heagney said he remembers the moment the winner found out they were $10,000 richer.
“He walked in and told me he thought he’d won $10,000 – I said you’ve got to be putting me on,” he said.
“With the lottery they never disclose who’s won, but you can usually pick it out by the change in a regular customer.
“They go from buying one of two to buying $50 worth with an extra spring in their step.”
Mr Heagney said the store erupted in celebration when the man returned to the store shortly after purchasing the ticket.
“Before selling it to him we had asked him for ID as he looked so young. Ten minutes later, he came back and said ‘I think I’ve won!’,” he said.
Mr Heagney’s advice to punters is to go for the $2 lottery ticket as he believes they’re most likely to win.
The university student is studying Business Statistics and said it was his studies that prompted him to buy the ticket.
“It was just a random buy! I don’t really usually buy scratchies but I was studying for an assignment in my class and since I was reading about the law of probability it just popped in my head to go buy an Instant Scratch-Its ticket!” he said.
“I’ve always thought that winning that type of thing is really hard but I guess I got really lucky!
“I was still in the Plaza carpark when I scratched the ticket and when I saw I won $10,000 I was shocked and speechless! I could barely drive home!
“Luckily my assignment wasn’t due for another few days and I managed to submit it and do pretty well.
“I’m going to save the prize until after I graduate.”